Written Answers Nos. 132-139
132. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many people are not receiving their automatic notification to renew their motor tax from his Department and that this letter contains the PIN required to process their motor tax payment online; the steps being taken to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23467/14]
View answerThere are arrangements in place whereby my Department, through the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) system, remind motorists that motor tax is due through the issue of a motor tax reminder notice, some 3-4 weeks before the due date. These notices are generated automatically and some 400,000 issue at the end of each month. Departments are required to implement measures to secure greater take-up of online services which can also deliver much needed cost savings to the Exchequer. For this reason emphasis has been placed on administrative aspects of the motor tax renewal process where savings can be achieved through more imaginative use of the online motor tax service including the introduction of electronic (email) reminders, which reduce both volumes and cost of paper motor tax renewal reminder notices.
My Department now issues approx 50% (200,000) of such notices each month by email. Only customers who signed up for the electronic service receive their notice via this channel. Motorists who have declined this option, or who last taxed the vehicle at the local Motor Tax Office, continue to receive a motor tax renewal notice in the post. In situations where vehicle owners lose or mislay the PIN which facilitates online taxing, there is an online PIN retrieval facility at www.motortax.ie. The online motor tax service continues to be one of the most successful eGovernment services and the returns for 2014 to date, indicate that 67% of vehicle owners now renew their motor tax online. This represents a very significant increase of 7% for the same period in 2013.
133. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of contracts currently with Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus routes which will be subject to tender by private operators, with a breakdown based on the number and location of the routes; and the location and number of any contracts which have already been awarded to private operators by the National Transport Authority. [23483/14]
View answer134. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has completed a cost-benefit analysis of the tendering of 10% of PSO bus routes currently with Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann services to private operators; if he will point to the way the contracting out of some routes will provide value for money to the State; and his views on the way the conditions and salaries of staff of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann will be protected under any such change. [23484/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together.
The issues raised are matters for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have referred the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
135. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current credit rating of all commercial semi-State bodies operating under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23521/14]
View answerThe credit rating of the commercial semi-State companies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the companies themselves. I have however forwarded your question to those companies for their direct response to you. If you do not receive a response within 10 working days please contact my private office.
136. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the projected allocations of the public service obligation for each year from 2015 to 2019; and if he will provide a breakdown of the split of the PSO between Dublin Bus, Irish Rail and Bus Éireann for each year from 2015 to 2019. [23528/14]
View answerDecisions in relation to the overall funding for public transport Public Service Obligation (PSO) services provided to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for 2015 and future years will be made in the context of the 2015 Estimates process and the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure 2015-2017 currently underway. In my submission to the Comprehensive Expenditure Review I will be proposing that there be no further cuts to the PSO subvention from 2015.
The allocation and payment of the subvention to all operators, including the amount payable to the three CIÉ subsidiaries, is decided by the NTA in accordance with their PSO contracts with the companies.
137. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his attention has been drawn to plans to close the crèche in Tallaght hospital; the way this will affect parents and children who avail of the crèche facility; and if he has seen or will publish the report commissioned by the hospital management. [23445/14]
View answerAlmost all the pre-school services in this country are provided by commercial or community providers. A small number are provided in workplace locations. All of these services are developed in response to local or employment needs and the ongoing viability of such enterprises is a matter for the service providers. My Department has no responsibility in relation to the sustainability of the creche at Tallaght hospital or any other individual childcare service.
The recent enactment through the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 of amendments to the Child Care Act 1991 underpins a number of key reforms being introduced as part of the Pre-School Quality Agenda. The amended legislation strengthens the current inspection regime, provides a statutory basis for the registration of early years services, and also provides for the setting of minimum qualification standards for staff working with children in early years services.
To provide for the implementation of the changes to the Act it will be necessary to amend or make additions to the current Regulations in a number of areas, and these are currently being finalised. New National Quality Standards will also be published. It is not intended to impose any additional costs on services as a result of the new regulations, other than an increase in the annual fee payable by services to the Early Years Inspectorate. In the case of the service in question, the increase in the fee payable is expected to be in the region of €80 per annum.
My Department has introduced measures to support training for childcare staff to enable them to upskill to meet the increased qualification requirements and €3 million is being made available over the next two years for this initiative. A key element of the Pre-School Quality Agenda is to strengthen the pre-school inspection system nationally. My Department is working with the Early Years Inspectorate to develop new protocols on regulatory compliance so that there is greater clarity and consistency of approach. I am confident that these reforms will provide for a more consistent and robust pre-school inspection regime.
138. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the current credit rating of all commercial semi-State bodies operating under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23509/14]
View answerI can confirm that there are no semi-State companies currently in operation under the aegis of my Department.
139. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the actions that will be taken by his Department in conjunction with an organisation in serious financial difficulties (details supplied) to stop the temporary closure of the local centres of the organisation providing vital counselling and support services to victims of rape and sexual abuse. [23527/14]
View answerResponsibility for the funding of the Rape Crisis Centres and Refuges previously funded by the HSE became the responsibility of the new Child and Family Agency upon its establishment on 1st January, 2014. In 2013 the HSE spent over €17 million on the provision of domestic and sexual violence services. This included the funding of 60 services throughout the country comprising:
- €10m for 20 Crisis Refuges
- Over €4 million for 16 Rape Crisis Centres
- Almost €3.5 million for 24 Support Services.
Funding in 2014 for Domestic, Sexual and Gender based Violence Services has been retained at 2013 levels and is managed within the office of the Chief Executive of the Child and Family Agency.
In line with Government policy, all service level agreements and contracts with the voluntary and community sector, including those providing services in response to domestic, sexual and gender based violence are required to protect frontline services, improve productivity and keep overhead costs to a minimum. In the context of the ongoing budgetary constraints that affect all publicly funded organisations, it is for each funded organisation to decide on how best to manage budgets in order to operate within available resources. In cases where reductions in levels of service are implemented by funded organisations, the Child and Family Agency expects that service users are provided with information about other available supports, including alternative sexual violence support services in the region and the 24 hour helpline provided by Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. Where specific financial difficulties arise for individual services, the Child and Family Agency will engage at local level to address emerging issues.
A review is being undertaken of national provision of sexual violence and domestic violence support services with a view to establishing a more consistent approach to the delivery of these services nationally and enhancing the availability of high quality, effective services. A strategic plan for these services will be completed in 2014. The Child and Family Agency will work closely with all stakeholders to ensure the provision of responsive and integrated sexual violence and domestic violence supports services to adults, children and families.
